NC Stage Delhi Protest for J&K Statehood, Omar Says 'Movement Has Just Begun'

Although party leaders were not allowed to reach Jantar Mantar to hold a protest for the demand of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the ruling National Conference and its coalition partner Congress staged a demonstration at the national capital.

Former Chief Minister and president of the National Conference Dr. Farooq Abdullah, led the protest at Delhi, which was joined by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Kara, AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmed Mir, and other senior leaders.

Protesters held placards demanding the central government fulfill its promise. Slogans such as "fulfill your promise" and "restore the rights and dignity of Jammu and Kashmir" were raised.

Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised to restore statehood before Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed hope that the central government would respect the sentiments of the people.

Omar Abdullah said, "The movement has just begun"
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah alleged that obstacles were placed in the way of conducting the protest peacefully. He said that he was prevented from reaching Jantar Mantar, but this would not silence his voice.

Omar Abdullah stated that the struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, rights, and dignity would continue. He added that this movement was just the beginning.
Omar Abdullah said the Centre had "forced" the National Conference (NC) to stage a protest in the national capital by failing to fulfil its promise of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the NC had been reminding the Central Government for more than two years to honour the assurances made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court regarding the restoration of statehood.

"The Central Government has forced us to come to Delhi and protest. For the past two and a quarter years, we have only been reminding them to fulfil the promises made to the people in Parliament and the Supreme Court," he said.

The Chief Minister said the National Conference remained committed to its political agenda and would continue to pursue the issues it had raised.

"In the first Assembly session, we passed a resolution on Jammu and Kashmir's special position, special status and constitutional rights. We are not leaving that agenda," he said.

Omar Abdullah said the immediate objective of the protest was to secure the restoration of statehood, adding that other political issues would be pursued thereafter.

"The purpose of today's protest is to remind the Central Government of its promise. Everything will start from there—first statehood, then the resolution passed by the Assembly," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister of J&K Surinder Choudhary said that it was very unfortunate that people of Jammu and Kashmir have to protest at New Delhi to remind the Union Government about its promises.
"We are here to remind our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of their promise. You promised the people of Jammu and Kashmir that you would restore statehood after the elections," he said, adding, "Today, it has been nearly a year and a half, and neither the Prime Minister nor the Home Minister has fulfilled that promise."

He said that the National Conference, the Congress, and all our other partner parties have come together to Delhi today to ask the Union Government to fulfil its promises of granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.